Samoa

Donate to WPB
CountrySamoa
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Prisons and Corrections Service
Prison administration
Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Service
Contact address
P.O.Box 53, Apia, Samoa
Telephone
+685 23516 or 23517
Fax
+685 20848
Email
commissioner@police.gov.ws
Head of prison administration (and title)
Taitosaua Edward Winterstein
Commissioner of Prisons and Corrections
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
358
at March 2019 (Office of the Ombudsman)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
179
based on an estimated national population of 200,400 at March 2019 (from Samoa Bureau of Statistics figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
23.2%
(March 2019)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.3%
(March 2019)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.3%
(March 2019 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.5%
(26.9.2007)
Number of establishments / institutions
3
(2019)
Official capacity of prison system
330
(December 2017)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
121.2%
(December 2017)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 173 99
2002 232 131
2004 234 131
2006 183 101
2009 c 300 c 162
2011 427 227
2014 481 250
2017 400 202
2000 173 99
2002 232 131
2004 234 131
2006 183 101
2009 c 300 c 162
2011 427 227
2014 481 250
2017 400 202

Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                      SAMOA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2003
2007

19
26

6.8%
14.0%

11
14

20198323.2%41

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.                                                      

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                      SAMOA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2011
2015

14
11
28
33

8.1%
4.5%
6.6%
6.6%

8.0
6.1
14.9
17.0

2019

19

5.3%

9.5

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.  

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate